Researchers at the University of Minnesota, combining data from two research studies, found that parents who restricted foods (a common practice) were more likely to have overweight or obese children. Researcher Katie Loth, the study's lead author, says, “Parental pressure to eat can be detrimental to children because it takes away from a child's ability to respond naturally to their own hunger. Instead, (it) encourages them to respond to cues in their environment which can lead to unhealthy weight gain over time... Research has shown that when a parent places a restriction on a particular food item (i.e. no treats) that a child becomes more interested in consuming that food item and will often overeat that food when given the opportunity... Instead, parents should be encouraged to allow their children to eat all foods in moderation.”

CNN, 4/22/2013

According to research presented this week at the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2013 Scientific Sessions, excessive salt led to nearly 2.3 million heart-related deaths worldwide in 2010. Researchers analyzed 247 surveys of adults participating in the 2010 Global Burden of Disease Survey, which is a collaborative study involving researchers from 50 different countries. The participants reported on their sodium intake from 1990 to 2010 in food questionnaires. Overall, adults around the world ate an average of 4,000 mg of sodium a day: twice the amount recommended by the World Health Organization (2,000 mg per day) and nearly three times the amount the AHA says is healthy (1,500 mg per day). The AHA links too much salt in the diet to a higher risk for heart disease, hypertension and stroke. Basically, we all need to lower our salt intake.

TIME, 3/22/2013

A Mediterranean diet high in olive oil, nuts, fish and fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent heart disease and strokes, according to a new large study from Spain. In the New England Journal of Medicine, the results of the study showed that people on Mediterranean diets were 28 to 30 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people on a general low-fat diet.

Reuters, 2/25/2013

Research shows that folic acid can help lead to a healthy pregnancy, even for women who take it before they become pregnant. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the vitamin can reduce a child's risk of developing autism.

NBC News, 2/18/2013

A new government report shows the number of people seeking emergency treatment after consuming energy drinks has doubled nationwide over the last four years, the same period in which the industry has surged in popularity in convenience stores, bars and on college campuses.

Associated Press, 1/16/2013

Dr. Oz sits down with doctors Stephen Sinatra and Jonny Bowden to discuss their controversial stance on cholesterol. They don't believe high cholesterol causes heart disease. Instead, they believe inflammation and sugar play large roles in the development of heart disease. Dr. Sinatra and his co-author offer advice on maintaining cardiovascular health, as they explain all the vital functions cholesterol plays in brain health, cellular functioning and the production of vitamin D. Dr. Sinatra recommends undergoing an LDL particle size test to see if you have big fat fluffy particles, which, along with high HDL, can protect you from heart disease.

Dr. Oz, 12/12/2012

Probiotics are widely used to aid digestion and help restore gut bacterial balance after antibiotics. But some researchers are investigating the beneficial bugs for conditions that have nothing to do with the digestive tract.

The Wall Street Journal, 11/27/2012

Getting a moderate amount of plant substances called flavonoids through the diet may be linked to a lower stomach cancer risk in women, but not men, according to a new study.

Reuters, 10/26/2012

A U.S. study of people with gout linked eating the fruit with a 35 percent to 75 percent lower risk of having an attack.

Reuters, 10/14/2012

"It's healthy to emotionally eat once in a while—to eat for comfort, to celebrate, or just because," says Jean Fain, a psychotherapist affiliated with Harvard Medical School and the author of The Self-Compassion Diet. "Sure, you could go for a walk or head to the gym, but sometimes an ice cream sundae is just the thing." Both your body and psyche are wired to make connections between how you feel and what you eat. It's the way you handle and regulate your eating that determines whether your emotional eating is a real health concern. If you punish yourself after eating, your emotional eating may have gone too far. The article goes on to suggest several things you can do to help you avoid excessive emotional eating, such as keeping a journal.

CNN Living/ RealSimple.com, 10/3/2012

Has sugar led to a public health crisis? Dr. Robert Lustig, a California endocrinologist, thinks so. He points the finger at sugar for contributing to obesity and related diseases like diabetes and heart disease, all of which he claims are preventable. He also says that sugar is the most addictive substance, because you need to keep on eating more and more to feel the same degree of satisfaction. This report also explores the link between sugar and cancer, and the prevalence of sugar and corn syrup even in foods that we associate as being healthy for us, like yogurt and cereals.

60 Minutes, 8/5/2012

Two new just-released studies offer fresh insights into the best way to lose weight and keep it off. The research suggests that a low glycemic index diet is the healthiest for losing weight and that a low fat or a low carb diet can have significant health consequences.

The Wall Street Journal, 6/27/2012